KEY POINTS
- Article 2 defines a civil society organization as a non-governmental, non-partisan, not-for-profit entity established by two or more persons on a voluntary basis and registered to carry out a lawful purpose.
- A ‘local organization’ is formed under Ethiopian law by Ethiopians, foreigners resident in Ethiopia or both; a ‘foreign organization’ is formed under foreign law and registered to operate in Ethiopia.
- Its text repeals the Charities and Societies Proclamation No. 621/2009.
Who the CSO Proclamation covers
Proclamation No. 1113/2019 applies to non-governmental, non-partisan, not-for-profit organizations established voluntarily by two or more persons. It distinguishes local organizations, foreign organizations, charitable organizations and professional associations, and it has separate rules for charitable endowments, charitable trusts, and consortia and consortiums of consortiums.
Registration and supervision
The Proclamation establishes a federal agency for civil society organizations, accountable to the Federal Attorney General as originally enacted, and a Civil Society Organizations Board. It sets out how organizations are formed and registered, and it refers to sector administrators where an activity also needs a licence from a government body. Agency names and reporting lines can change through later reorganisation laws, so confirm the current body before filing.
What it replaced
Article 87 of the Proclamation repeals the Charities and Societies Proclamation No. 621/2009 and Article 25 of the 1960 Commercial Code.
Frequently asked questions
Which law governs NGOs in Ethiopia?
The Organizations of Civil Societies Proclamation No. 1113/2019, which repealed the Charities and Societies Proclamation No. 621/2009.
Can foreigners form an NGO in Ethiopia?
Under Proclamation No. 1113/2019, a local organization can be formed by Ethiopians, foreigners resident in Ethiopia or both, and a foreign organization formed under foreign law can register to operate in Ethiopia.
How many people are needed to form a civil society organization in Ethiopia?
Article 2 of Proclamation No. 1113/2019 defines an organization as one established by at least two persons on a voluntary basis.
This page is general legal information about Ethiopian law, prepared from the published texts it cites. It is not legal advice and does not confirm whether a provision is still in force or has been amended. Federal laws are published in the Federal Negarit Gazeta in Amharic and English, and the Amharic version prevails where they differ. Consult a qualified Ethiopian lawyer about your situation.